After nearly 70 years in production, Shopsmith, the maker of the Mark V and Mark 7 woodworking machines, is on its last legs and facing liquidation unless a person or group buys them.
I never used a Shopsmith but always see used ones for sale on Marketplace. My understanding is that the accessories were proprietory so you were locked into only their brand of stuff. It didnt seem very user friendly to me, so I never considered buying one.
Did you own and use a Shopsmith? How is the machine? Was it a “jack of all trades, master of none” type of tool? I’ve always been curious.
Do you have a boatload of money and want to buy the company? Now is your chance. They may be liquidated by the end of the month. They are located in Dayton, OH and apparently it’s how Scott Phillips got his start with his TV show “The American Woodshop”. The story goes he worked for Shopsmith at the time and did some How-To videos on using the machine. Someone saw his videos and asked him to do a new woodworking TV show (or something like that. He knows the story a lot better than I do).
MVFlaim Furnituremaker 
It’s very sad to have read that they are closing. I know first hand that times are tough and with the ongoing rising costs of living woodworking is just becoming a luxury for the wealthy.
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I’d have to admit that I haven’t built anything nice in a couple of years due to the cost of lumber.
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I don’t plan on buying any new lumber. Once its gone it’s gone forever. I wonder if Peter Fallensby is still paying $100 a log.
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Possinly. It”s the labor and transporation of turning it into lumber which drives up the price. I bet that’s why Lost Art Press published the book “Make a Chair from Bullshit.” Lumber prices are wacky.
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I wish that were true then it would be a somewhat honest price rise. Remember Covid? The bullshit started from then. It was all pre planned. There was no reason for the price hikes. Greed took over and is still active. Many of the price hikes you see today fested from then and it was all because they can. It’s sick and the people are still none the wiser.
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Wages have skyrocketed over the past five years too. My contractors that I sell patio block to can’t find anyone to work while offering $25.00 per hour. I’m sure the lumberyards are feeling the same pressure as well
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That’s pretty good for the US from what they tell us you guys earn. Wages had to go up or there would have been rioting in the streets. But as wages go up, so does the cost of living so it’s a catch 22. Whose to blame? I guess the 1% that shit on us on a daily basis. I’m starting to think cavemen lived in a fairer world than we do today.
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Best way to beat the 1% is to only buy from small business. Until they become so rich, they become part of the 1%. lol
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Small business is equally as greedy. There is no solution to this. I met a lady who owns a coffee shop and the moron was frantic about everyone putting up the price except her. I asked if her supplier put his prices up and she said no, so why are you going to put it up. She said becuase everyone else is and she doesn’t want to miss out. Typical neanderthal backward behaviour. I really don’t have any answers nor solutions. I just know that we’re hurting and everyday is uncertain times.
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